Lighter

ABSTRACT

A lighter having a fuel container ( 4 ) incorporated in a casing ( 2 ), the former being connected with a fuel outlet ( 6 ) and an ignition device ( 7, 8 ) which can be activated by means of a switch ( 9 ) also regulating, if applicable, the fuel flow from the fuel outlet ( 6 ). A safety device ( 13 ) is associated with the switch which locks the switch if the safety device is not activated virtually simultaneously with the switch.

[0001] The invention concerns a lighter with a fuel containerincorporated in a casing, connected to a fuel outlet and, for example, apiezoelectrical ignition device which can be activated by means of aswitch, particularly a sliding switch, through which it is alsopossible, if applicable, to regulate the flow of fuel from the fueloutlet.

[0002] Such lighters are known in a variety of embodiments, for exampleas butane or oil lighters. FR 2 307 224, for example, contains thedescription of a lighter in the shape of a match. However, lighterspresent the risk of also being used by children, who may be injured bythe flame or can cause fires. In addition, it is possible, for example,that a lighter carried in a trouser pocket could accidentally leak fueland/or create a spark. This may also cause injuries or fires.

[0003] The objective of the present invention ist therefore to provide alighter of the type described above in which unintentional use islargely excluded and which is difficult for children to operate.

[0004] According to the invention, this objective is essentiallyachieved by associating the switch with a safety device locking theswitch if the safety device is not activated simultaneously with theswitch. By locking the switch, whose activation sets off an ignitionspark or similar event and/or regulates the flow of fuel from the fueloutlet, the unintentional activation of the lighter is prevented. Thisway, an ignition spark can only be initiated by unlocking and, at thesame time, activating the (sliding) switch. The spark or similar eventigniting the fuel flowing from the fuel outlet can only be initiatedwhen the safety device is activated jointly with the switch. Especiallyfor small children, activating the safety device and the switchsimultaneously is virtually impossible, thus providing the lighter witha child safety device such as is mandatory, for example, in the UnitedStates.

[0005] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switchis designed as a sliding switch which can be slid on the outside of thecasing, having a ledge sliding along the sliding path in a groove or onthe casing. This design of the the lighter allows particularly ergonomicoperation, the ledge of the switch permitting to block the sliding ofthe switch by a locking device.

[0006] Further refinement of the idea of the invention includes a designin which the safety device has a blocking element protruding into thesliding path of the switch, for example into the sliding path of theledge, and which can be removed from this path. 1In order to unlock theswitch, the safety device can be retracted into the casing, at leastpartially, for example, i.e. a switch or a button is pressed into thecasing to unlock the safety device. The activation directions of theswitch and of the safety device are thus at right angles, thus making itextremely difficult for a small child to operate the lighter. However,an adult can hold the lighter in one hand and, for example, activate theswitch with his thumb, while at the same time unlocking the safetydevice with his index finger.

[0007] In order for the lighter to re-lock automatically after use, oneembodiment of the invention is designed in such a way that the blockingelement of the safety device, by means of a spring loading the device,is maintained in a position where it protrudes into the sliding path ofthe ledge of the switch. Once the switch has been activated, theblocking element of the safety device, pushed by the spring, clicks backinto its position blocking the switch. Consequently, the lighter doesnot have to be re-locked manually after use.

[0008] A particularly comfortable operation of the lighter can beachieved by incorporating a piezoelement in the ignition device. Apiezoelement, through pressure exerted by the activation of the switch,produces an ignition spark near the fuel outlet to ignite the fuel. Asan alternative, it is also possible to produce an ignition spark byother means, either mechanical or electrical, or through a filament orsimilar element near the fuel outlet.

[0009] In addition, it is preferable that the fuel container is designedas a refillable butane container. In this case, the pressurized butanewould flow from the fuel container to the fuel outlet if, for example, avalve or similar device connected to the switch is opened.

[0010] User friendliness and a pleasing appearance of the lighteraccording to the invention can be achieved by giving the casing anoblong shape with a round or multi-sided, preferably square, profile,whose end is in the shape of a thickened head, preferably designed as amatch. The lighter is then in the shape of an oversize match. In thiscase, the ignition device and the fuel container could be incorporatedin the oblong body of the casing, with the fuel outlet being in thethickened head.

[0011] Further refinements, advantages, and possible applications of theinvention are shown in the following description of an exemplaryembodiment and the figure. All described and/or depicted features,individually or in any given combination, are the object of theinvention, irrespective of their summary in the claims or in theirreference.

[0012] It is shown in.

[0013]FIG. 1 a longitudinal section of the lighter according to theinvention,

[0014]FIG. 2 the enlarged detail II in FIG. 1,

[0015]FIG. 3 a longitudinal section of the lighter according to theinvention, rotated by 90° with reference to FIG. 1,

[0016]FIG. 4 the enlarged detail IV in FIG. 3,

[0017]FIG. 5 the enlarged safety device.

[0018] The lighter 1 shown in the figures has the shape of an oversizematch with a casing 2 designed as an oblong body having a square profilewith a thickened head 3 on one end of the oblong body. A butanecontainer 4 with an insert 5 for refilling is designed to be located inthe oblong body of the lighter casing 2 at the end opposite the head 3.The fuel container 4 is connected through a fuel line closed by a valve,to a fuel outlet 6 located at the tip of the thickened head 3. Inaddition, a piezoelement 7 is incorporated in the oblong body of thecasing 2, forming, together with a pair of contact points 8 arranged inthe tip of the thickened head 3, a device to initiate an ignition spark.

[0019] A sliding switch 9 to be slid in the direction of the axis of thecasing 2 is designed to be located between the fuel container 4 and thepiezoelement 7 on the casing 2. At its tip located nearest the thickenedhead 3, the switch 9 is connected with the piezoelement 7 through alever 10 so that, when the switch 9 is slid towards the head 3, pressureis exerted on the piezoelement 7 by the lever 10, thereby initiating anignition spark between the contact points 8. In addition, the switch 9is connected with the valve of the fuel container 4, the fuel container4 being closed by the valve when the switch 9 is slid away from the head3. This way, by sliding the switch 9 towards the head 3, the fuel flowtowards the fuel outlet 6 is opened and, simultaneously, an ignitionspark is initiated between the contact points 8, causing the butaneemerging from the head 3 to ignite. By sliding the switch 9 back, awayfrom the head 3, the butane supply from the fuel container 4 isinterrupted, thus causing the flame to go out.

[0020] The switch 9 is designed to have a ledge 11 held by a groove inthe casing 2 and slideable in this groove together with the switch 9 inthe direction of the axis of the casing 2. A recess 12 of the casing 2contains a safety device 13 having two guide bars 14 with which thesafety device 13 can be retracted into the casing 2 in guide rails 15 ofthe casing 2 in a direction perpendicular to the sliding path of theswitch 9. In addition, a spring loaded in such a way that it maintainsthe safety device 13 in its position shown in FIG. 4, is located in therecess 12.

[0021] On the side facing the switch 9, the safety device 13 has ablocking element 17 which, in the position of the safety device 13 shownin the figures, protrudes into the sliding path of the ledge 11 in sucha way that the ledge cannot pass the blocking element 17 Sliding tileswitch 9 in the direction of the head 3 is thus blocked by the blockingelement 17 of the safety device 13 blocking the ledge 11 of the switch9.

[0022] When the safety device 13 is retracted into the casing 2 againstthe force of the spring 16, the blocking element 17 opens the slidingpath of the ledge 11, allowing the switch 9 to be slid towards the head3. Once the switch 9 is moved back from the head, the safety device 13,through the force of the spring 16, clicks back into its position shownin the figures, so that the blocking element 17 again protrudes into thesliding path of the ledge 11 of the switch 9, thus locking the switch.

[0023] The lighter 1 is therefore provided with a safety lock in theform of the safety device 13 disallowing any unintentional activation ofthe lighter 1. It is also extremely difficult for small children toslide the switch 9 in the direction of the head and, at the same time,to push the safety device 13 against the force of the spring 16 into thecasing in such a way that the blocking element 17 will open the slidingpath of the ledge 11 of the switch 9 However, an adult cansimultaneously activate the safety device 13 and the switch 9 with theone hand holding the lighter 1.

[0024] List of Reference Signs:

[0025]1 lighter

[0026]2 casing

[0027]3 head

[0028]4 fuel container

[0029]5 inlet

[0030]6 fuel outlet

[0031]7 piezoelement

[0032]8 contact points

[0033]9 switch

[0034]10 lever

[0035]11 ledge

[0036]12 recess

[0037]13 safety device

[0038]14 guide bar

[0039]15 guide rail

[0040]16 spring

[0041]17 blocking element

1. Lighter having a fuel container (4) incorporated in a casing (2), theformer being connected with a fuel outlet (6) and an ignition device (7,8) which can be activated by means of a switch (9) also regulating, ifapplicable, the fuel flow from the fuel outlet (6), characterized by thefact that a safety device (13) is associated with the switch (9),locking the switch (9) if the safety device (13) is not activatedvirtually simultaneously with the switch (9).
 2. Lighter according toclaim 1, characterized by the fact that the switch (9) can be slid onthe outside of the casing (2) and has a ledge (11) which runs along itssliding path in a groove or on the casing (2).
 3. Lighter according toclaim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the safety device (13) hasa blocking element (17) protruding at least partially into the slidingpath of the switch (9) and being retractable from this path.
 4. Lighteraccording to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that thesafety device (13) can be retracted at least partially into the casing(2) in order to unlock the switch.
 5. Lighter according to claim 4,characterized by the fact that the safety device (13) is equipped with aspring (16) loaded in such a way that the blocking element (17) ismaintained in a position where it protrudes into the sliding path of theledge (11) of the switch (9).